LW1A02: Criminal Law

Module Provider:

School of Law

Number of credits:

20 [10 ECTS credits]

Level:

C (Certificate)

Terms in which taught:

Autumn and Spring

Module Convenor:

Dr DC Wilde

Pre-requisites:

restricted to LLB students

Co-requisites:

Modules excluded:

Current from:

2005/6

Aims:
This module will address the application of a range of criminal offences and defences. It will provide the student with an appreciation of the development of the criminal law by precedent and statutory interpretation. The module will outline the difficulties of enforcing the law, the need for reform and the implications of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Assessable learning outcomes:
Assessable outcomes
By the end of the module, the students will be able to:
demonstrate an awareness of the principles of English criminal law and the main offences and defences;
engage in critical evaluation of the law and comment on proposals for reform;
apply legal principles with appropriate authorities to the solution of problems;
evaluate legal arguments and engage in critical appraisal of criminal law doctrine;
formulate coherent legal arguments and present them clearly in writing.

Additional outcomes:
Students will develop their oral communication skills through participation in tutorial discussions. Development of ICT skills will be encouraged through utilisation of electronic resources including databases and the Internet. Independent learning will be encouraged through the use of a self-study topic.

Outline content:
Sources of criminal law - common law, statute, ECHR and Human Rights Act 1998
Principles of criminal law - actus reus, mens rea, causation, voluntariness, mistake, strict liability
Homicide offences - murder, voluntary and involuntary manslaughter
Participation - accessorial liability
Non-fatal offences against the person
Defences - self-defence, duress, necessity, intoxication, insanity
Inchoate offences - conspiracy, incitement, attempt
Offences against property - theft, deception offences, criminal damage

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
The module will be taught by a combination of lectures and tutorials. To encourage independent learning, no lectures will be given on one key topic. A handout will be provided as guidance for this exercise and students will be expected to make their own notes. Written exercises may also be set during the module which will be marked and returned by the tutors concerned. These exercises will not, however, form part of the summative assessment of a student's overall performance on the module. Students will be required to produce two pieces of written work, the second of which will form part of the summative assessment of the module. A written test will be taken by all students in January to provide practice in working under examination conditions. The scripts will be returned with comments, the marks will not form part of the module's summative assessment.

Contact hours:

Assessment:
Coursework
Students will be expected to submit one piece of written work of not more than 5 pages, formatted in accordance with the rules as set out in the School Guide (Programme Assessment) Assessed Work Rules.
Relative percentage of coursework : 25%.

Examinations
One two-hour examination (three questions to be answered from a choice of questions) in May/June. Students must answer at least one question from each of two sections (Section A - essays, Section B - problem questions).
Requirements for a pass: 40% overall.
Reassessment arrangements: Resit any failed element. Hence, submit a piece of
assessed work on a new topic by August/September
or resit the examination in August/September (format
as for original examination) or both.